Snoopy’s Legendary Rooftop Concert at Knott’s Berry Farm: A Viral Sensation Bridging Generations
Knott’s Berry Farm is hosting an unlikely rock spectacle, where thundering drums and shredding guitar solos cut through the crowd as pyrotechnics and streamer cannons blast. The energy and production feel akin to a show at the Hollywood Palladium or the Forum, but the venue is a big red doghouse – a fantastical setting that demands a willing suspension of disbelief.
The show, Snoopy’s Legendary Rooftop Concert, has become an instant hit with park patrons and fans internationally thanks to a viral video posted on opening night. Even Sharon Osbourne shared the “Peanuts” tribute to her late husband with the all-caps message “I LOVE IT” from the floor of the 68th Grammy Awards, demonstrating the show’s broad appeal. But the concert’s success extends beyond witty puns and elaborate costumes.
The show tells the story of Snoopy learning to be a rock star at the Jelly of the Month Club’s Music Academy and embarking on a world tour with the band. Throughout the performance, Snoopy embodies a series of iconic rock personas – Dog Lennon, Paw Prince, Fido Mercury, Flying Ace Freely, and even a Devo-inspired character complete with the signature Energy Dome hat. Jelly of the Month Club delivers each beat and chord with precision, blending the power of rock’s history with the whimsy of “Peanuts.” Even Woodstock gets a moment to shine, whistling along to Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” set to a perfect one-drop beat while Charlie Brown spirals out in a chicken suit amidst swaying rubber chickens.
“We got rows of kids bringing their own rubber chickens,” show director Rob Perez remarked, describing the audience participation. “It’s almost like watching ‘Rocky Horror’; kind of bizarre, really funny, and charming.” The show’s playful spirit resonated with even Charles Schulz’s daughter, Jill, who told Perez that her father used to say, “there’s nothing funnier than a rubber chicken.”
The concert taps into a deeper resonance, exploring themes of belonging and self-discovery. It makes sense that rock ‘n’ roll appeals to Snoopy, a character often portrayed as an outsider with a rich internal life. Similarly, the sense of family found on tour would appeal to Charlie Brown, a character often grappling with feelings of isolation. Schulz himself explored these universal feelings in his cartoons, admitting that Charlie Brown was loosely based on himself and observing in a 1977 BBC interview that “people who win are the minority, most of us lose a lot.” His solution? Simply never give up.
Nobody cheers on Charlie Brown more than Michael De La Torre, a.k.a. Mic Dangerously, guitarist and vocalist for Jelly of the Month Club. Since 2013, the band has been dedicated to inspiring, educating, and entertaining audiences of all ages. They’ve performed at countless schools, hospitals, and civic events, using interactive songs to teach musical concepts and life lessons. The band also offers free online lessons through the Jelly of the Month Club Music Academy, transforming live performances into cartoon-based educational games. They’ve partnered with nonprofits like UNICEF’s Kid Power initiative to bring concerts to schools across Southern California, often donating their time.
“Studies say music helps with math, English and science, but it also helps you as a person,” Dangerously explained. “It helps you understand feelings better. Look at how adults use music therapeutically. Kids are doing just the same.”
Dangerously first recognized the power of music education as a young boy, witnessing a teacher with a Hawaiian shirt quiet a boisterous classroom with just an acoustic guitar. But it was hearing Louis Prima’s voice in “The Jungle Book” that solidified his desire to become a singer. Playing at Knott’s has forged meaningful connections with the community, including a father whose usually nonverbal son now actively participates in the shows, and an older woman whose speech and movement were revitalized after suffering a stroke. “She told me that she loved me like a son,” Dangerously shared, “I’ve never had anything like that happen with my rock band. It makes you really want to show up.”
One recent evening, Abbey, Dangerously’s biggest fan, stood in the front row, playing a light-up tambourine and mirroring his musical gestures in a matching sequin blazer, red pants, and wide-brim hat. “I love everything about the music and dancing,” the 11-year-old exclaimed, excitedly sharing that Dangerously personally gifted her the tambourine and other instruments. Her mother, April Guerrero, has been recreating Jelly of the Month Club’s looks for Abbey since 2017.
The band’s commitment to education is reflected in its members’ diverse backgrounds. Matt Kalin, a teacher and saxophonist, has shared the stage with legends like Social Distortion and Louis Bellson. Dr. Todd Forman, a practicing physician, attended Harvard, taught at USC, and played sax with Sublime. Bassist James Kee has taught kindergarten through fourth grade for the last 15 years. Dangerously’s own mother was an art teacher who encouraged him to teach after he completed his audio engineering degree at Musicians Institute.
Director Rob Perez, a multi-instrumentalist and producer with a deep appreciation for classic rock and “Peanuts” cartoons, was instrumental in bringing Snoopy’s Legendary Rooftop Concert to life. The show evolved from a 2017 performance called Woodstock’s Music Festival, where Snoopy’s appearance as Jimmy Hendrix ignited the crowd. Perez’s boss and Knott’s fans demanded more. “The Rooftop Concert is a little bit of a nod to the Beatles, but it’s much more about Snoopy’s rooftop,” Perez explained. “When you see Snoopy as the great writer, or the World War I Flying Ace, it’s always on the roof of his doghouse. So why wouldn’t he be a rock star on his rooftop?”
Knott’s rebrand allowed Perez to incorporate more storytelling. The show opens with Snoopy traveling to a rehearsal where Dangerously gifts him a tambourine. He returns home with a stack of records, obsessively listening in his doghouse – a relatable experience for fans who have found solace in old LPs. Snoopy dons a leather vest, declares himself a “Golden Dog,” and runs away to join the Jelly of the Month Club’s Music Academy. After receiving criticism for his howl, he realizes he misses Charlie Brown and invites the Peanuts Gang to join Jelly of the Month Club for a final performance, one legendary enough to earn them a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Perez’s attention to detail extends to the show’s sound and visuals. He digitally recreated a technique used by Bill Melendez in the 1960s to create Snoopy’s signature cadence, recording barks and grumbles, speeding them up, and randomly cutting and pasting them together. He collaborated closely with costume designer Tim Barham to create every wig, accessory, and costume with exacting detail, incorporating Easter eggs from films like “La Bamba,” “Rocketman,” “This Is Spinal Tap,” and “Almost Famous.”
“We don’t try to change the Peanuts from who they are,” Perez said. “We have to bring Charlie Brown along as he constantly fails at being a rock star. We have to give him a shot and prop him up, because he’s usually on the ledge. We bring him back. That’s been the premise of many Peanuts TV specials and movies.”
Jelly of the Month Club’s original song, “The Magic Is in the Music,” encourages Charlie Brown to embrace the challenge of learning guitar. As he fumbles with his Flying V, the crowd cheers for his effort despite his self-doubt. When he withdraws during the Elton John number, Dangerously reminds him that music can be a safe haven, saying, “Charlie Brown, you are home.”
“We’re out there singing we ‘want to bark and howl all night’ but we’re teaching Charlie Brown and Snoopy that it’s not just about your clothes, it’s about what’s in here,” Dangerously said, touching his heart. “It’s important not to take yourself too seriously. We’re showing that it’s OK to have fun. And that silliness is a big, important component of rock and roll.”
This spirit permeates Snoopy’s Legendary Rooftop Concert, both on stage and among the audience. The crowd is a vibrant mix of grandmothers shaking babies’ fists, children headbanging in Woodstock hoodies, rockers in studded vests, and teenagers momentarily shedding their cynicism for a moment of pure joy. On Snoopy’s rooftop, everyone is a rock star: Abbey, a rubber chicken, and even Charlie Brown.
